Last week, JCB stopped production at all of its UK manufacturing plants for an initial two-week period as disruption resulting from the coronavirus pandemic caused a reduction in global demand.

Today, the firm announced that it is now suspending UK production until at least the end of April, but the company says it will continue to pay employees unable to work.

Plants

The firm’s nine manufacturing plants in the UK closed on 18 March. At that stage, only shop floor employees were affected by the move and were paid in full, while office staff continued to work from home. The news of today’s extended shutdown will mean that the vast majority of JCB’s 6,500 workforce will now be asked to stop working until at least the end of April. During this period, all affected JCB employees will be paid 80% of their basic pay.